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What is the correct serving size?

January 26, 2013

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Eating portions appropriate for a variety of foods from each of the food groups is the basis for healthy eating.

The food groups include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, meats and proteins, milk and fat. Choose amounts of each, to help you reach or maintain a healthy weight. Check the nutrition facts label for the sizes of the portions appropriate other processed foods.

The standard serving sizes are based on several criteria, including the amount of a nutrient that is usually eaten, nutrient content and convenience.

Use Visual AIDS to help determine the serving size:

for example, the Palm of your hand is equal to the size of a portion of meat. A tennis ball is equal to the size of a portion of ice cream. Six dice equal to the size of a portion of cheese. A compact disc (CD) is equivalent to the size of a portion of a pancake or waffle. Two slices of bread is the standard portion to sliced bread. The size of lots of other foods from this group contain approximately the same calories as two slices of bread. For example, 1 cup of cereal such as oats, is a standard parcion. A Cup is approximately the size of your fist, and 1\/2 cup equals half of a baseball.

1 cup of chopped raw vegetables or fruits fist a woman or a baseball ball. A medium or orange Apple a ball tennis ¼ Cup (1\/4) of fruit or other dried fruits a golf ball. 1 cup of lettuce is equivalent to four leaves (Romaine lettuce) a medium baked potato is equivalent to the size of a computer mouse. A cup of milk is the size of the standard portion in this group.

Oils, lard, butter, lard and all seasonings fall into the fat group. Fat teaspoon contains 5 g, a size equivalent to the upper joint of the finger or two stacked coins.